Striping and embroidering mechanism for knitting-machines.



P. H. STOEHREL. STRIPING AND EMBROIDERING MEOHANISM'FOB. KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26, 1909.

Patented Nov. 14,191]

3 $HEETS-SHEET 1.

avwentoz I P. H. STOEH'RBL. STRIPING AND EMBROIDERING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED 001226, 1909.

1,008,752.. Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. H. STOEHREL.

STRIPING AND EMBROIDERING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26, 1909.

1,008,752, Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. Ir7

Fr/zmpzfimm atto'ondu 'UNITED STATES PATENT oFFr-cn FRIEDRIG- H. STOEHBEL, F READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB, TO THE NOLDE &

HORST 00., OF READING, PENNSYLVANI i STRIPING AND 'EMBROIDERING Specification of Letters Patent.

A, CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANISM ron KNITTING-MACHINES.

Patented Nov. 14., 1911.

Application filed October 26, 1909. Serial No. 524,647.

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, FRIEDRIG H. STOEHREL, a' citizen of the United States, and a resident of the 'city of Reading, in the county of Berks. and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Striping-and Embroid'ering Mechanism for Knitting-Machines,- of, which the following. is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to straight-bar knitting'm'a'chines of the Cotton .type, and consists in animproved em- "are guided in a series ofthrea'd-carners 1 broidery athrad mechanism therefor, as hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The main object of the invention is to enable striping on one or more needles, and

embroidery designs with or Without stripe effects, to be satisfactorily produced asv de sired in a simple and automatic manner, as

will fully appear in the detailed description following. y

Figure 1 is mainly an end elevation but showing'certain' parts in cross-section, of a machine embodying my invention in preferred form. Fig. 2 1s a front elevation of an end portion of one ofthe' knittingsec;

tions of this machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view, to an enlarged scale, showing a portion of one of my removable embroidery attachments in operative position on the-machine;'. J I, U

frames is furnished by providing on the mathe forward position of the embroidery thread carriers, relative to the knitting, be

dotted line a full cycle of the embroidery;

thread carrier movement, effected by the mechanism described in cooperation with the knitting mechanism. flFigs. 5 and Gare separate views of the thread carrier, in elethe rock-shaft -14 while vertical movement vation and cross-section.

Certain main; features of an' ordinary straight-barknitting machine are indicated in the drawings, so as to clearly show the cooperative relations of my improvements. The knitting needles 21 fixed in-needle-bar 22,'lmocking-over bits 23, dividers 24, and

. sinkers 26, operate as usual to produce a plain web 28 from the thread 27, and furfor the purpose of satisfactorily controlling ther description of them and other machine 1 features ordinarily employed in plain knitting is unnecessary. My improvements relate to the additional mechanisms provided an embroidery-thread or threads 30 which are to be acted vupon by this well known knitting mechanism so as to produce ornamental stripe or design effects; which additional mechanisms will i now be fully de-- scribed. 1

The embroidery-threads 30, as indicated,

secured to acarrier frame 2, which frame is also provided with a corresponding number of carrier posts/for bobbins 29 and with suit-able tension devices 33, 34 on a guide "rod. 32. Trunnion ends 11' on the rear lonigitudinal bar 12 of each of these frames 2 1 are pivotally mounted in the forked upper ends of .a pair of carrier arms 13 fixed to a rock-shaft 14 which extendsthe full length of the machine and is adapted to receive a ffame 2 foreach knitting section of the lat- .ter; while the forward longitudinal framebar 31 ,is carried upon lifting arms 3 fixed to a shaft at mounted in bearings 5 on the machine frame 6.- Each carrier frame 2,

with its bobbins, 29 and thread-carriers 1, V

isthus operatively attached to the machine so as to be readily removable when desired; and a convenient support, for the removed chine a longitudinal carrier rod 87 upon ,;which theymay be hung out of the way as indicated in dotted-lines in Fig. 1.

z .A forward and rearward movementof the carrier-frame '2, relative to the row of knit-,

ting needles 21, is imparted by means of a.

suitably guided connecting rod 18 pivoted to a bearing-pin 17 in the fixed arm 16 of is imparted,1 by. said lifting arms 3 to the forwardly. means of a connecting rod 8 attached to a fixed. arm/I on the shaft 4;. suitable cams, S and 20 being provided on the main cam shaft 7 8 indicated in Fig. 2 to operate the respective connecting. rods- 18 and 8; saidrod 18 however being indirectly operated located thread carriers 1, by

by means of a suitably pivoted cam-lever adapted to be thrown into or out of action by a clutch mechanism as hereafter described.

The embroidery-threads are properly carried to and fro between the knitting needlesv2l by the combined forward and rearward and vertical movements of the threadcarriers 1 above described. In order to secure proper engagement of the threads with one ormore of the needles asrequired to produce stripes of any desired widths, or figure designs with or without stripes, as may be desired, I provide mechanism for imparting determined lateral movements to the carriers, parallel with the line of knitting needles, and also for intermitting the forward and rearward movements of the thread carriers, as will now be described.

The rock shaft 14, with the carrier frames 2 thereon is so mounted as to be capable of longitudinal movement whereby ,the thread carriers -1 will be moved parallel with the row of needles 21. The time and extent of these movements is determined, as shown, by'a' pattern-chaim mechanism comprising a pattern-wheel 41 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft' 39, located below and parallel with the rock shaft 14 at one end of the machine. This pattern-wheel shaft 39 is slidable longitudinally in fixed bearings 36, 37; and the pattern-wheel 41, which carries a chain 55, is'provided with a ratchet wheel 41 which is driven by a pawl'45 carried by an arm 47 pivoted on the shaft 39 and operated through a cam lever 75 and connecting rod 74 by a suitable cam on the cam shaft 7 8. The pattern-chain wheel and its operating parts are located betweenfixed collars 40 and 40 on the shaft39; said collar 40 as shown having an upwardly extending arm engaginga guide rod 59 andcarrying a chain support 56 and an anti friction roller 43., I

Depending from the rock-shaft 14-is an operating arm 48, positionedon said shaft between fixed collars 51, 51 and provided with a suitably mounted roller 50 adapted to contact with pattern blocks 54 on the pattern-chain 55, so'that said arm 48-and the rock-shaft 14 will be moved a greater or less distance, and 1n reverse directions, as

determined by the lateral projectionof the successive blocks and the action of a spring 53 arranged to retain-the rollerin cont-act therewithl The longitudinal movement 'of the rock-shaft 14 thus efiected bythe action of the moving pattern-chain, carries laterally all the embroidery-thread carriers 1 that are mounted on it, a distance of one or more needle spacings as determined by the chain blocks. In connection with this chain-block movement of the carrier I provide for efby means of a suitable cam mechanism arranged to actuate a shifting lever 44 bearing upon the roller 43 on the collar 40 so I 'as to move the chain-mechanism bodily in one direction against. the pressure of a spring42 which tends to return it to normal position; the chai'n wheel shaft 39 to-Which said collar 40 is fixed being moved endwise and carrying with it not only the pattern chain mechanism,'but the rock shaft l4 and the carrier framef To provide for cutting out the-embroidery-thread when desired the rock-shaft 14 is arranged to be thrown into or out of gear with the operating lever 19 therefor, by means of a clutch mechanismcomprising as shown aclutch pin 66 pivotally carried by anarm 65 on a suitably mounted slide rod 63, and movable with said slide rod through a guide-aperture in the cam-operated lever '20 into or out of engagement with-an aperture 68 in said operating lever 19, so as to cause the latter to be moved with the camoper ated lever 20 or not as desired The engaging .and disengaging movement of the slide rod 63 is effected, as shown, by means nected with a clutch-operating slide 60 on rod/59, Which slide is adapted to hold the clutch pin 66 in engagement with lever-l9 when it is engaged-by projections 61 on the chain blocks, while permitting release of such engagement when the chain tions are omitted.

' In order to permit of throwing the clutch mechanism out of action when desired, independently o-f' its-automatic operation by the pattern-chain as described, I provide a hand latch 88 on the arm-'64, adapted to engage a keeper-recess 88 so as to hold the clutch-pin 66 out of engagement with the lever 19; thereby stopping the rocking movement of'the carrier rock-shaft 14 until said projeclatch is released to throw the same under the automatic control of the pattern-chain.

The complete operation of my improved mechanism will be readily understood by reference to' Fig. 4 which indicates diagrammatically the thread-carrier movements 'effected thereby in coiiperation with the knitting mechanism to produce a single-needle stripe upon the fabric. In said diagrammatic view 1 represents the starting position of an embroidery-thread carrier rearward of the row of needles 21. The lateral movement of the carrier to the point a,

--which is efiectd by theaction of the shifting lever 44 on -'the pattern-mechanism places the thread 30 in position to be turned over upon the divider 24 now in position above it, by the return lateral movement of the carrier to 0; so that when the carr1er is subsequently moved forward between the needles to cl then laterally to e, and finally- 7 back again between the needles to its origi nal position 1 to form a loop upon the single needle marked21, in the manner previously described, said loop will be supported upon and accurately positioned in the notch of the divider so as to insure its proper showing on the face, or under side, of the fabric, after being carried .down with the subsequently placed web thread 27 by the needle action. The .preliminarylateral movements of the carrier to a and thus serve to positively position .the embroidery thread 30 vertically'upon the needles 21 by wrapping it about the divider 24,. whilethe rock-shaft 14 and the pattern-chain 55 effect the subsequent looping movements around the needle 21. This positive positioning of the embroidery thread'upon' the needles I have found to be practically. essential to properly .making a single-needle stripe. By wrapping this additional thread about a divider as described, preliminary to passing it around the needle, the resulting loop will be accurately placed atthe proper height on the needle to insure its lying on top of the web thread when the latter is laid, so that a uniform showing of the embroidery thread on theface of the finished goods will be certainly secured. If a wider stripe than one-needle is to be produced, or if figure designs in connection with the stripe are desired,- the pattern-chain is arranged to correspondingly control the carrier movement from (Z to 6 without interference with the preliminary carrier movement described, and

the stripping may likewise be automatically i'ntermitted as desired. The embroidery-carriers may be temporarily thrown out.

of action by means of the hand-latch 88, or. thecarrier frames may be entirely removed for convenience, as desired.

The thread-carriers 1 are made tubular to receive'thev thread, but are substantially diamond-shaped in cross-section so as to present forward and rearward knife-edges 1 1 to the needles whereby spreading of the latter is insured for the proper passing of the carriers. What I claim is 1. In a straight-bar knitting 'machine having cooperatively reciprocated knitting needles and dividers, an embroidery-thread carrier, means for reversely moving said carrier laterally to engage its thread upon a projected divider, and--means for subsequently moving the same to pass the dividerengaged thread around an adjacent needle.

2'. In combination with a" straight-bar knitting machine, a cooperating embroiderythread frame having bobbin-holders and thread-cafriersfa rock-shaft havfa g arms fixed thereto upon which said frame is pivotally mounted, means for rocking said shaft, means for independently rocking the pivotally mounted frameupon said arms,

jointly moving said pattern mechanism and frame endwise, substantially as set forth.

4. In a straight-bar knitting machine, an embroidery-thread-carrier mechanism comprising a rock-shaft and rocking mechanism therefor, a carrier-frame mounted on said rock-shaft, a pattern-chain" mechanism arranged to longitudinall move said rockshaft, and a stop mechanism operated-by said pattern-chain mechanism to throw said rocking mechanisminto or out of action.

5; In a straight-bar knitting machine, an embroidery-thread-carrier mechanism comprising a rock-shaft and rocking mechanism therefor, a carrier-frame mounted on said rock-shaft, a pattern-chain mechanism arranged to longitudinally move said-rock- 'shaft, means for jointly moving said pattern-chain mechanism and rock-shaft, and a stop mechanism operated by said patternchain mechanism to throw 1 said rocking mechanism into or out of action.

f 6. In a straight-bar knitting machine having-an embroidery-thread carrier and means for moving the'carrier-thread forward and backward between the needles, a patternchain mechanism comprising a pattern chain adapted to move the projected carrier laterally, and means for jointly moving said carrier and pattern-chain mechanism. laterally before projecting said carrier.

7 In a straight-bar'knitting machine hav ing an embroidery-thread car'rierframe and a rock-shaft upon which said frame is mounted, a depending arm on said rod, a

slidably mounted-rotary chain-wheel having a pattern-chain thereon engaging said. arm

to move said shaft longitudinally,- and means forv sliding said wheel: and-chain bodily.

8. In a straight-bar knitting machine hav mgan embroidery-threadcarrier frame and a rock-shaft upon which said frame. is

.mounted, a de ending arm .on said rod, a

rotary chain-w eel having a pattern chain thereon engagingsaid arm to move the rockshaft longltudinally and a clutch-operating slide operated by said pattern-chain to 'control the rockingaction of said rock-shaft.

9. In a straight-bar knitting machine having an embroidery-thread carrier frame and a rock-shaft upon which said frame is mounted, a dependingarm on said ,rod, a

slidablymouhted rotary chaimwheel having In testimony whereof, I aflix my signaa pattern-chain thereon engaging said armture, inthe presence of two Witnesses.

to move said shaft longitiidinally, means for 4 FRIEDRIG H STOEHREL .sliding said Wheel and chain bodily, and a, clutch-operating slide operated by said pat- Witnesses:

tern-chain to' control the rocking action of D. M. STEWART, said rook-shaft. W. G. STEWART. 

